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Saturday, November 26, 2016

Many claim that Woodlawn
Cemetery * in Dayton, Ohio is haunted. The most popular story is about the
ghosts of a five year old boy and his dog.

Woodlawn Cemetery

Like many ghost stories about
young children this one is more charming than scary.

In the mid 1800s residents of
Dayton used a series of man-made canals to transport goods and people.

Miami and Erie Canal

The Morehouse family lived in
the back of their shoe-repair shop in downtown Dayton. Behind this shop ran the
Miami and Erie canal. In August of 1860, the Morehouse’s youngest son Johnny was
playing near the canal with his dog. The young boy lost his balance and fell
into the water.

His dog jumped in after him.
He was able to pull his master out of the water but it was too late—Johnny had
drowned.

The Morehouse family buried
Johnny at Woodlawn Cemetery. Within days of his funeral people began to see an
unusual sight. Johnny’s dog was lying on his grave and would not leave.

As the days passed people
worried this dog would starve to death so they began to bring him food. Because
of this dog’s faithful vigil a new headstone was carved for Johnny’s grave. It
has “Johnny Morehouse” inscribed on the front and “Sweet Slumber” inscribed on
one side.

It depicts a large dog enfolding
Johnny tenderly. Today, this gravesite is the most visited in the cemetery.
People leave offerings of coins, stuffed animals, various toys and food—in fond
remembrance of this child and his devoted companion.

Offerings in remembrance.

For three months in 2008 a
rumor was spread that the gravestone was vandalized. These stories were false. The
head on the statue of the dog did disappear –the reason for this was with age
it had fallen off. It was repaired and placed back on the statue.

Over the years, witnesses
have claimed to see the ghosts of Johnny and his dog throughout the cemetery.
They are seen running and playing together.

Many have heard the sounds of
Johnny’s laughter as his dog barks.Most interesting are the reports
that people have seen what appears to be the statue of the dog breathing. Some
have put their hands directly under the dog’s stone nostrils and felt these breaths.

* Woodlawn is the 5th oldest garden
cemetery in the U.S. Orville and Wilbur Wright are buried here as well as Erma
Bombeck.

Saturday, April 5, 2014

This lake is located in
Golden Gate Park. This park has the distinction of being the most visited park
in the U.S. It was modeled after New York City’s Central Park and covers 1,017
acres.

The attractions at the park
include: the DeYoung Museum, the Japanese Tea Garden, The Conservatory of
Flowers, The Beach Chalet, Spreckel’s Park and some resident ghosts.The most popular ghost story or legend connected to the park is the story surrounding Stow Lake. This story has been
told for over 100 years. It was first mentioned in the San Francisco Chronicle
on Jan. 6, 1908.

In this story it was reported
that a mysterious figure was seen blocking a car on its way out of the park.
Police later pulled over the driver, Arthur Pigeon for speeding. He was
frightened and noticeably panicked.

Later he told the Chronicle:

“It was a thin, tall figure in white. It had long, fair hair and was
barefooted.”

Pigeon noted he did not see a
face and that it frightened him to the point that he was anxious to get away
from the park.

This ghost is said to be the
mother of 3 children. She lost one of them at the park. One version states she
was boating on Stow Lake in the late 1800s when her toddler accidently fell in
the water. The young mother desperate jumped in to recue the baby--both
drowned. *

Over the years many witnesses
have reported seeing this woman late at night searching for her baby around
Stow Lake. She is described the same way each time.

She is seen wearing a “dirty
white dress,” soaking wet with long hair. She is most often seen wandering the
lake’s edge looking anxiously into the water. Her ghost is also seen on Strawberry
Hill, which overlooks the lake.

* Another version from the 1930s has a young teen pregnant and unwed wanting to hide this fact from her family. It is said she disposed of her baby in the lake and then committed suicide.

Stow Lake and Strawberry Hill

A Statue that Moves

Photo by Chris Stewart
Taken before repairs
were done.

An unusual phenomenon connected
to this haunting is a statue called, Pioneer
Women and Children. This statue is near the lake and the old log cabin that
houses the California Women’s Pioneer Association.

When the ghost is active at
the lake witnesses report this statue moves as well. Another trigger is when
people stand near it late at night. The statue then comes to life and changes
positions. Its' face changes shape and sometimes it has no arms or head.

Legend Trippers

Another legend connected to the Golden
Gate Park is that if several cars drive near the lake at night they will all
stall at the same time.

Teens chant: "White Lady", 3 times, it is said this will make the ghost appear. Then the ghost
will ask, “Have you seen my baby?”

If the witness replies, “Yes”
the ghost will haunt them. If they reply, “No” it is said the While Lady will
kill them.